The law prohibits abortion coverage in general private health plans, except when a woman's life is in danger, and requires employers or consumers who want abortion coverage to buy separate riders.

Case Background

In June, the ACLU of Kansas and Western Missouri filed a claim asking U.S. District Judge Julie Robinson to strike down the law. The group argued that lawmakers' primary purpose in passing the bill was to impede access to abortion and that many women cannot afford to pay out-of-pocket for the procedure, meaning that they have to delay the procedure until later in pregnancy -- when it is more risky -- while they save up money. On Jan. 7, Robinson ruled that there was no evidence to support ACLU of KSWMO's argument that the Legislature's primary motivation was to hinder access to abortion (Women's Health Policy Report, 1/8).

Dismissal

A trial had been scheduled for March to address the underlying issue of whether requiring a woman to cover the full cost of an abortion infringes on her federal right to the procedure. However, ACLU and the state agreed to a joint stipulation of dismissal, which effectively ends the case and bars the group from reviving it.

Brigitte Amiri, a lawyer for ACLU, said on Friday, "We are disappointed that the court's decision will stand, despite the fact that the American public believes that politicians have no place interfering with a woman's personal and private medical decisions." She added, "Although we are not able to continue with this case, we will continue to stand up for a woman's right to make the best choice for herself and her family" (AP/New York Times, 1/19).

Video Round Up

N.C. Gov. To Break Campaign Promise on Abortion Bills

AP/ABC News 11's Ed Crump discusses how North Carolina Gov. Pat McCrory (R) will break his campaign pledge to not sign any abortion restrictions if he signs a 72-hour mandatory delay bill into law. Watch the video

Datapoints

See where states rank on reproductive rights across the U.S. Plus, find out how states are imposing more restrictions on and limiting women's access to abortion. Read more

At A Glance

"Not since before Roe v. Wade has a law or court decision had the potential to devastate access to reproductive health care on such a sweeping scale."

— Nancy Northup, president and CEO of the Center for Reproductive Rights, on a ruling from the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals that upheld major portions of a Texas antiabortion-rights law. Read more